Meet Jennifer Moica. She is an Italian currently living in Germany. She studied at the AMD Academy for Fashion & Design in Düsseldorf, Germany and won the “Fresenius New Talent Award 2011” in Fashion Design. She also obtained a “Fresenius New Talent Award 2012 in Fashion Design” upon graduation.

Since childhood she knew she wanted to work in fashion. That was due to her everlasting passion for creativity and art. At the age of 16, she took a sewing course to learn more about fashion and the process of its creation in order to pursue a career in the field. She owns a Yorkshire terrier, whom she misses dearly whenever she is away from home. Her guilty pleasure is cake and her favourite social media app is Instagram.

What are so far your main achievements in your career?

My main achievements, which I would have never thought if I think of me as a little girl, is that I never expected to achieve what I did since now. I never would have thought to win and to graduate in Fashion with the both awards that I won during study. Then that I moved to London to do an internship, on my own and since then never stopped doing and creating my ideas. I never stopped drawing. Fashion is always on my mind. And of course that I am here still doing what I always wanted to do and have not given up.

What do you love the most about your profession?

I love that I can be creative in something that you can use in your daily life. Everyone needs to dress so fashion is part of all of our lives. As I do everything myself, I do like a bit of each of my design process starting from the idea/ scribbles/inspiration, pattern-making, sewing to the shooting creating a film. Most of it all I like that I can create my own designs, my own ideas and don’t have to stick to any rules or other. I love what I do and like that I can be free in every step of my process.

What are your biggest struggles as a young designer/artist?

As a young designer I find it difficult to show my collections somewhere except online, which is the cheapest way of doing it. Some expect you to pay a certain sum which most young Designers don’t have. Budget is always a problem. But that’s how it works I guess. In every collection I try to express my idea in the most possible way that I can, not only on fabrics but also if it means that I have to do everything on my own, like photo shooting and creating a fashion film. Which I do and love doing, even if it’s a lot more work. But in the end it’s fun and exciting seeing your work because you can say ’I created this and did this all myself’. It’s satisfying. All in all, I am glad that there is an annual event like FASHIONCLASH Festival that gives young creatives the opportunity to show, sell and exhibit their work. Moreover, for someone who does all on their own like me sometimes it is difficult to meet the season deadlines for SS or AW. Most of the times I get ready days after the Fashion Weeks are over.

What fascinates/inspires you and why?

I can be inspired by all sorts of things that I see, read or hear. I believe that inspiration is everywhere. For me it can be something odd I am seeing somewhere, a painting, a certain song or sound or even an experience/feeling. Sometimes it also can pop up in your mind, just out of nowhere, also while working. I try to see/read/explore the most that I can and soak all information, like a sponge and then write it down or draw any idea that I have, depending on how it pops up in my head. I am not inspired or fascinated by anything specific, but as I do like all sort of creativity really, I am most of the time inspired by painters, musicians or writers or artists of any creative field who can inspire me with their work, the way they think, they work or express themselves. I like to be inspired by anything. It’s limitless and it’s everywhere.

Finding your own distinctive voice can be difficult, where and how do you find your personal creativity?

It is difficult to get one’s voice heard. I do my work and my designs with passion and try to keep them as unique as possible and to create them as I imagine them to be and to look like. My inspiration doesn’t come at the beginning of a collection straight away. It sometimes comes whilst drawing, other times when going out seeing different things but always with the theme of the collection in mind or even during developing of the toiles on the mannequin or just out of the blue when I don’t expect it. One can find inspiration at any time. Well, that’s more for me but each person is different and creativity can be different and develop different on each single person.

What senses are engaged in your creation process?

The sight, touch, smell (fabrics) and hearing. Last one when imagining my work as a story, for the fashion film or short clip, music sometimes makes the difference even conveying your intention with what you want to say.

How does technology change your creation process?

For me I apply technology in my creation process when creating prints for screen printing my designs or when editing the pictures of the shoot or working on the clips. Even new inspirations can come up when being on social media. But going back to the question, it doesn’t really change in my case.

Your favourite quote?

I’ve actually have a couple that I really like:

"Life is too short to waste it realising the dreams of others."-Oscar Wilde

"If you don't have passion for something, you shouldn't it be doing in the first place."-Alexander McQueen

"The important thing is not to get yourself noticed, but for people to remember you”-Giorgio Armani

"Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming."- David Bowie, Leo Tolstoy